current trends nor tradition for the sake of tradition should thwart the Christian’s reliance upon the Word. Although I have not discussed academic matters here — and will not develop that line of thought, let me mention one aspect of Biola in that area in which you may be in terested. Biola does have a wide range of standard academic majors. In addition, the college and its grad uate program, Talbot Theological Seminary, offers the fundamental Christian ministry majors in such areas as Bible, theology, and Chris tian education. The essential feature of Biola is, however, that each major — whether history, English, business adminis tration, or whatever — is formed and viewed with a spiritual dimen sion. We expect God to use our grad uates regardless of the major pur sued. Some will be in the pulpit, some overseas, some in the class room, some in nursing, some—with future schooling—in medicine, oth ers in business—but all will have a clear concept of what God’s Word teaches and all, we pray, will be in the area in which God wants them. Our academic program strives for excellence. We will never justify me diocrity in any of our areas on the basis that that part of the curricu lum is not important. But through a Christian philosophy of education, through chapels, through a signifi cant emphasis upon Biblical instruc tion and through prayer, we hope to guide each student to the place where God can best use his talents. We are historically, currently and vitally interested in preparing young people for the wide variety of Chris tian ministries demanding attention today. Further, we are dedicated to providing a thorough grounding in the Word of God for all who go into secular areas. In the words of Paul in Ephesians 1:12, we want all of our graduates to live “to the praise of His glory.”
that Biola needs to attract those stu dents who are truly interested in some form of service for Christ. This past year, in our College and Seminary program, we had well over 1500 young people involved in some form of Christian service. This is part of the very life of Biola. It must always characterize the school. Further, B io la’s s tu d en ts a re characterized by Christian qualities of character and conduct that set them apart from the non-christian college student. I am proud of our students. Most are sharp, collegiate in nature, aware of contemporary issues, and earnest in their commit ment to Christ. I believe that Chris tian students (and all of us) must earnestly seek, as Christ gives the strength, to exemplify the Christian qualities of character, or fruit of the Spirit, that Paul so clearly states in Galatians 5:16-18. I believe it is far better to attract and enroll stu dents who are willing to be led of the Spirit than to seek those who are constantly irritated by rules. Or ganizations that attempt to run smoothly and are concerned about their testimony will have some rules and regulations. We must be wise in the standards we set, but we must also be wise in the students we en roll for Biola has and will continue to expect its students to live lives that are pleasing to the Lord rather than lives that are centered in self. Although Biola College and Talbot Seminary cannot set standards of admission, of conduct or even of be lief that are acceptable to all, we will apply procedures and standards that are grounded in the Word of God. And where the Bible is not clearly relevant, we will continue to be sensitive to the weaker brethren so that we do not cause them to stumble. In short, it is my desire that Biola be clearly characterized by a knowl edge of the Word of God, and a dedication to its message. Neither
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